zarelaeda's reviews
262 reviews

Strike the Zither by Joan He

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Imagine my surprise when my April book club 'chose your own music novel' turned out to be a retelling of Romance of the Three Kingdoms in all the best ways. And on top of that, we have beautifully diverse female characters and queer characters? My only complaint is that I wanted this to be double the length. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Gore and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Alcohol

Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Never thought I'd enjoy being gaslight for 19 hours/500 pages, yet here we are. It was so perfectly written I can't even be mad about it and I don't know if I like that or not. 

Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit

3.0

We Are Icarus by Matt Benjamin

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

challenging dark emotional funny informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Vomit, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Gaslighting

Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Stalking

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Sappho by Sappho

3.0

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I love a book that has me falling in love with the 'villain'. Are they a villain? Hero? Morally Gray? Simply flawed and human? Steep it in indigenous culture with a dash of high fantasy and you have the recipe for a great book. 

Finding Me by Viola Davis

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Potions & Pints by S.R. Meadows

funny hopeful lighthearted tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0